Sea Star donates $25K to Iniciativa Comunitaria effort
An Apego program participant shows off a hand-made handbag created during her stay at the nonprofit.
Sea Star Line Inc. recently donated $25,000 to the Iniciativa Comunitaria nonprofit organization in Hato Rey, to expand its Apego project to allow the children of program participants to visit their loved ones for longer periods of time.
“At Sea Star Line, we’re proud to collaborate in the improvement of the quality of life of Apego project participants,” said Eduardo Pagán, vice president of Sea Star Line. “The new space will promote family unity, child development and the early recovery of their mothers.”
The Apego project is a complimentary service to Iniciativa Comunitaria’s “Commitment to Life I” program that focuses on helping to develop maternal skills, re-establish ties between mothers and children through direct contract, supervised visits or extended care. The space is available for program participants, as well as Head Start beneficiaries in nearby communities.
“The Apego project is a special place for each of the mothers who need it. In Puerto Rico, substance abuse treatment centers don’t have this type of space where mother and child can spend time in a natural environment,” said José Vargas-Vidot, executive director of Iniciativa Comunitaria. “This area is the result of listening to the needs of the mothers who are in treatment and our desire as an entity to be able to adjust our services to their needs.”
With the donation, the nonprofit will set up and furnish a space so that every weekend, a program participant can spend time with their kids outside regular visiting hours.
